Growing Up In the Multi-Cultural Country of India

“India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grandmother of tradition. Our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only.”- Mark Twain

When I read this I wondered how much I am aware of my country. I have for sure read India’s history. I am proud of my country because I am an Indian. But have I ever tried to look beyond just that? There is so much we can take in. We never try to explore those things from different angles.

When I was born I was told I am a Hindu.

I accepted, because I didn’t know what it meant. When I went to school, there were some student in my class whose names were slightly different from mine. I asked them why so? They told me they are Muslims.

One such day I was watching TV, and the some songs were playing and an old man dressed in red. I asked, who is he? They told me he is Santa. I asked again, who is Santa? They said he is a Christian saint and they are celebrating Christmas. Then I came to know there is another set of people who are called Christians.

Then one day they told me the priest who visits the temple is Brahmin. As I grew up I came to know about a number of different religions and how they are further subdivided.

Here I am talking about tradition and culture of India as well as the caste system. How do we as human beings live or come to understand our society or the people living in it? We are told these things.

The very moment we are old enough to understand words like color, caste, or creed we are provided with a definition to each one of them.

That definition becomes the whole point of how we see our fellow human. Here I would like to thank my parents and family that they told me to respect each and every human being irrespective of whom they are.

Here is why I think it is difficult to change some traditional flaws in India anytime soon:

Indian tradition and culture is 5000 years old.

There are some advantages that you have if you belong to a certain category (caste). On this basis there is also a provision by the government for the sole purpose of uplifting people who were/are being suppressed.

There is strong sentimental and religious value attached with traditions and culture.

Everything is not perfect like a white paper. With time we will be able to separate the caste system from religion itself or at least not judge, rate, or see people from this point of view. The deeper you go the more intricacies you will encounter.

Talking about culture differs from state to state. If you go from north to south or east to west, you’ll get a cultural shock. The dialect, dress, music, faith, everything is different.

India is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-religious society.

This is one of the reasons why in India we keep celebrating festivals throughout the year. Living in such a society makes me respect other human beings and the religion they follow with the same intensity as I would do for people of my religion.

I believe your faith/religion is there for the soul purpose of helping you when you feel a little lost, and need a divine strength in your life. No religion ever says that you should demean other people.

The message is simple “respect other human being for the simple fact that they are human being and nothing, more nothing less.”